From the Dictionary of
National Biography...
CARSE, ALEXANDER
(fl. 1812–1820), painter, was a native of Edinburgh, where he enjoyed a
good reputation as a painter. About 1812 he came to London, and in the
ensuing years exhibited several pictures at the Royal Academy and at the
British Institution. His pictures chiefly represented scenes from
Scottish domestic life, often of a humorous character. His colouring and
drawing met with very favourable criticism. He resided for some years in
Grenville Street, Somers Town, but seems about 1820 to have returned to
Edinburgh, where he continued to paint for some years. He is sometimes
described as ‘Old Carse,’ which seems to point to his being the father
of William Carse [q. v.] The date of his death has not been ascertained.
A picture by him has recently been presented to the Scottish National
Gallery.
[Graves's Dict. of Artists; Catalogues of the Royal Academy and the
British Institution; Annals of the Fine Arts, i. 423, ii. 44;
information from Mr. J. M. Gray.]
CARSE, WILLIAM
(fl. 1818–1845), painter, was a native of Edinburgh, and seems to have
been the son of Alexander Carse [q. v.] In 1818 he was a student at the
British Institution, and resided with Alexander Carse at Grenville
Street, Somers Town. His first pictures were cattle pieces in the style
of Paul Potter, but later he devoted himself to subject pictures,
chiefly scenes from lowly Scottish life. In the years 1820–9 he
exhibited pictures at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, and
the Suffolk Street Exhibition. During the latter part of his residence
in London he resided in Southampton Crescent, Euston Square. About 1830
he returned to Edinburgh, and exhibited pictures in the Royal Scottish
Academy up to 1845, after which date he cannot be traced.
[Graves's Dict. of Artists; Catalogues of the Royal Academy and the
British Institution; Annals of the Fine Arts, iii. 598; information from
Mr. J. M. Gray.]
